A comparison between bromazepam (Ro 5-3350, Lexotan) and diazepam (Valium) in anxiety neurosis. A controlled, double-blind clinical trial.

The new benzodiazepine bromazepam (Ro 5-3350, Lexotan) was compared with diazepam in a double-blind, crossover trial on 30 patients with prolonged anxiety symptoms. Each drug was given for 3 weeks in a dose of 5 mg t.d.s. Bromazepam proved to be statistically significantly superior to diazepam when evaluated through patients' preferences. Fourteen patients preferred bromazepam to diazepam and four the opposite. Three cases were tied. Nine patients had to be withdrawn from the evaluation, which may create bias. A plea is made for further controlled clinical trials on bromazepam, in particular in obsessive and phobic neurosis.